Cadiz, KY to Bowling Green, KY is 84.7 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Russellville Road, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Kentucky. Expect a straightforward drive on mostly surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer to avoid interstate speeds. With no planned stops and a relatively short duration, this route is easily manageable for a same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Cadiz, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Russellville Road
38.7 mi
46m
Bowling Green Road
12.4 mi
14m
Cadiz Road
9.2 mi
11m
Hopkinsville Road
7.4 mi
8m
Jefferson Davis Highway
5.2 mi
5m
East Jefferson Davis Highway
3.2 mi
3m
Main Street
2.2 mi
3m
West 7th Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Russellville Road
— 38.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cadiz, KY and Bowling Green, KY.
1
Start on KY 139
243 ft·7 sec·Jefferson Street
2
Turn left onto Brown Street
291 ft·13 sec·Brown Street
3
Turn left onto US 68 Business
2.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
4
Continue on US 68 Business
375 ft·7 sec·Merchant Street
5
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
7.4 mi·8 min·Hopkinsville Road
6
Continue on US 68; KY 80
9.2 mi·11 min·Cadiz Road
7
Continue on US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·2 min·West 7th Street
8
Turn straight onto US 68; KY 80; KY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·West 9th Street
9
Turn left onto US 68; KY 80
1.3 mi·1 min·McLean Avenue
10
Continue on US 68; KY 80
8.9 mi·10 min·Russellville Road
11
Continue on US 68; KY 80
5.2 mi·5 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
12
Continue on US 68; KY 80
19 mi·22 min·Russellville Road
13
Continue on US 68 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·West 4th Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
231 ft·7 sec·West 4th Street
15
Turn left onto US 68 Business; KY 3519
72 ft·1 sec·South Main Street
16
Turn right onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 4th Street
17
Turn right onto US 68 Business
373 ft·6 sec·Franklin Street
18
Continue on US 68 Business
0.2 mi·19 sec·Franklin Road
19
Continue on US 68 Business
0.1 mi·12 sec·Franklin Street
20
Continue on US 68 Business
0.6 mi·51 sec·Bowling Green Road
21
Continue on US 68; KY 80
3.2 mi·3 min·East Jefferson Davis Highway
22
Continue on US 68; KY 80
12 mi·13 min·Bowling Green Road
23
Continue on US 68; KY 80
11 mi·13 min·Russellville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto US 68 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·University Boulevard
25
Continue on US 68 Business
0.5 mi·48 sec·Kentucky Street
26
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
469 ft·18 sec·East 12th Avenue
27
Turn left onto Center Street
217 ft·8 sec·Center Street
28
Turn right onto East 12th Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·East 12th Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
406 ft·13 sec·State Street
30
Turn uturn
183 ft·15 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 46m duration and 84.7-mile distance, this route is perfect for a same-day trip. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive with plenty of time for activities. Since there are no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you see something that catches your eye or when you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $13, and it’s always wise to fill up before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without significant town access is 38.7 miles on Russellville Road.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.4 miles from Cadiz, KY, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowling Green, KY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cadiz, KY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cadiz, KY
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Cadiz, KY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Russellville Road for about 38.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Brown Street
Turn left onto Brown Street
Navigation decision point
5
55.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|State Street
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
Navigation decision point
8
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.24 one way
$26.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$4.89
$16.30
$32.60
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Cadiz, KY
Late night
in Cadiz on Tuesday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bowling Green, KY
Late night
in Bowling Green on Tuesday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 2 to 12 mph38% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Russellville, KY
42 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, e...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 84.7
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 0% highway, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 84.7 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 38.7 miles along Russellville Road. You'll be navigating through towns and rural areas for the bulk of the trip, so be prepared for varying speed limits and potential local traffic.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 mi on Russellville Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Brown Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.7 miles on Russellville Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles (US 68 Business; KY 3519 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 84.4 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Mammoth Cave National Park and Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bowling Green, KY before heading back.
